Auxiliary paper feeding mechanism



Dec. 27, 1949 E. J. JANKE AUXILIARY PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM 3 She ets-Sheet 1 I Filed Aug. 31, 1945 INVENTOR. EDWARD J'. JANKE BY 642a. 'few, v 771% flrranueys Dec. 2 7, 1949 J, JANKE 2,492,577

AUXILIARY PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 31, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MDRM YJ Dec. 27, 1949 E. J. JANKE 2,492,577

AUXILIARY PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 31, 1945 Fla. 5

INVENTOR. fuwAno I Jmvmz- Patented Dec. 27, 1949 2,492,577 AUXILIARY PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM Edward J. Janka, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Addressograph-Multimph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application August 31, 1945, Serial No. 613,913

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a supplemental device adapted to be mounted on a machine having an automatic paper feed for supplying a few extra sheets to a printing machine or whatever machine receives the sheets from the normal automatic feed. The general object of the invention is to provide such a supplemental device so designed that it may be readily mounted over a stack of sheets fed automatically, without disturbing the normal automatic feed while enabling the supplemental sheets to be advanced one at a time to feeding rollers which receive the normal automatically fed sheets. I

In the operation of the printing machinery to which sheets of paper are automatically fed from the top of a stack thereof, it is frequently desirable to print a'few extra sheets, perhaps on different colored paper from the paper in the stack; or the paper in the stack may be arranged in successive sets of forms to be filled in by the duplicating or printing machine and in such case it may be desired to print additional sheets beyond those in the sets. Likewise it sometimes happens that some of the sheets to be printed are missed or if duplicate sheets are fed they may be diverted in passage so as not to reach the printing machine, and it is desired to print such blank dis= carded sheets or to supply printed sheets for the missing ones. Certain applications require a different number of sheets in different groups and the actual number of copies desired cannot be determined when the original sheets are collated; hence, extra copies should be printed for subsequent insertion in the proper groups. These instances are cited merely by way of example to show the desirability of having provision for feeding a few extra sheets whenever desired.

My invention provides a specially formed support adapted tobe mounted over a stack of paper in an automatic paper feeding device, and carry and position a comparatively few sheets which may be passed immediately to the top of the stack, or to the elevated table if no stack .is present, and will be fed one after the other by the regular feeding mechanism, after which the machine may continue uninterruptedly picking up sheets from the top of the stack present beneath the added sheets.

My supplemental support and the means by which it is carried and the cooperating parts of the feeding mechanism are illustrated in the drawings hereof and hereinafter more fully described, and the essential novel features and combinations are set out in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of an automatic paper feed mechanism equipped with my supplemental feeding device; Fig. 2 is a plan of the same; Fig. 3 is a perspective of the supplemental tray for carrying the extra sheets; Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a portion of the normal paper feeding mechanism. showing the tray in side elevation, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 4-4 on Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation through the tray in a plane parallel with Fig. 4 and showing extra sheets in position to be automatically separated and fed one at a time, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 5-5 on Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, with the tray empty, and the separator in the act of presenting the top sheet of the stack to the feeding rollers; Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are sectional details of portions of the tray, on the correspondingly numbered lines on Fig. 3; Fig. 10 is a sectional side elevation of the control mechanism coacting with thetopof the stack of sheets, the plane of the section being substantially the same as Fig. 4, but looking in the opposite direction.

The automatic paper feeding mechanism is of the type shown in Patents Nos. 2,293,046 and 2,358,560, issued August 18, 1942, and September 19, 1944, to my assignee, Addressograph-Multlgraph Corporation, as assignee of F. E. Curtis. Reference is made to those patents for fuller descriptions of the automatic feed shown, as well as of means for carrying the fed sheets from the stack to an accompanying printing machine.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the frame of the automatic machine includes a supporting base portion and a pair of parallel upright plates l0 and H, and suitable bracing cross members. The frame ofthe automatic machine also includes spaced upright channel-shaped members 14 receiving guiding rollers l5 on a vertically movable platform It on which may be mounted a stack of paper sheets to be automatically fed, such stack being indicated in various views at A.

In the automatic machine illustrated, means are provided for raising the platform E6 to maintain the top of the stack in position to be fed. The drawings indicate two'sprocket chains 20 depending over suitable sprocket wheels 2| and anchored at one end to the platform. and at the other end carrying counterweights 23, tending to balance the load on the platform. The sprocket wheels 2| are rigidly carried by a rotatable cross shaft 22, and automatic mechanism (hereinafter more fully explained and described in detail in the patents mentioned) periodically turns the cross shaft to raise the platform.

The platform maintains the top of the stack A adjacent a pair of coacting feeding rollers 30 and 3i which are rotated to carry their bite away from the stack, and means are provided to lift the top sheet on the stack and present it to the bite of these rollers. As shown in the patents mentioned and as indicated herein, the sheet lifting mechanism comprises a suction foot 32 which engages the top sheet and lifts it a shortdistance, the suction foot being then swung toward the rollers to present the lifted sheet thereto as.

shown in Fig. 6.

As shown the suction foot 32 is carried by a rod 33 supported by rock arms 3% from. a shaft 35, journaled in bearings on the side plates is and I I. This shaft is periodically oscillated in timed relation to the printing machine by means not herein fully shown but appearing in Patent 2,293,046, mentioned. The foot is exhausted throu h a hose 31 as also shown in that patent. I avail myself of the shaft 35 as one of the supports for my supplemental paper device, as hereinafter explained.

Extending across the top of the stack is a bail l pivoted to the side plates. 'Ihis bail by resting on the top of the stack controls the lifting of the paper table according to the position of the top of the stack, by means hereinafter more fully explained and described in detail in Patent 2,358,560 mentioned.

The automatic sheet feeding mechanism shown in the patents mentioned, has a pair of spaced side bars 50 carrying an adjustably positioned cross bar 5| supporting suitable gauging means engaging the vertical side faces and rear face of the stack. For simplicity, I have not shown herein the gauges engaging the side faces, and the rear engaging means shown is specifically different from that of the patents. As herein indicated, the present rear gauge comprises merely one or more tapes 53 having their forward ends removably attached to the cross bar 5| and depending over the rear corner of the stack and provided with a weight 54 at the lower end.

My supplemental feeding mechanism comprises a device so formed that it may be readily mounted above the paper stack and support a number of sheets of paper depending beneath the control-bail 40 and extending forwardly on top to the stack to a position beneath the suction foot 32. so that the separating mechanism may act on such sheets. As shown, the support for the supplemental sheets comprises a tray 60 shown in part in each of the figures. I will now describe the tray as shown, with special reference to Figs. 3, 7, 8 and 9.

The tray 60 comprises two bottom plates 6| and 52 overlapping each other and each provided with an upright edge flange 63. One of the bottom plates as 6|, is provided with transverse slots 65 and the other plate has pins t8 occupying such slots, whereby the two portions of the tray are extendable or collapsible to change the width of the tray according to the width of the sheet of paper used. The plate 62 carries a transverse guiding rib 54 occupy a guiding slot 54a in the plate GI.

As shown in Fig. 9 the pins 56 carried by the plate 62 and depending through the slots 55 are surrounded by helical springs 51 compressed be-,-'

tween a washer 68 engaging the plate GI and the washer 69 held on the pin by an abutment member seated in a groove in the pin. This makes a frictional connection between the two members 4 of the tray, holding them in any set position while allowing them to be extended or collapsed as desired.

The tray 60 is provided at the forward end at 5 each side flange 63 with a notch 70 adapted when the tray is positioned to embrace a suitable shaft or rod on the feeding machine as, for instance, the cross shaft 35 heretofore mentioned. The tray is also provided at its lower forward corners 10 with plate-like hooks ll. Specifically, as shown,

these hooks are of sheet material and are secured to the underside of the two members of the tray; then extending downwardly, then forwardly, and then upwardly. The upward exten- 5 sions 12 thus provided form guides for the sides of the paper sheets when they are supported in part by the tray and in part by the top of the stack, as shown in Fig. 5. The rear edges of these upward extensions l2 are turned outwardly as shown at 13 to prevent the corners of the sheets catching on the extensions.

In placing my tray in position for use, the hooked extensions H are passed downwardly and then upwardly about the bail 40 so as to entirely clear that bail and allow its free operation up and down. The notches It at the forward end of the tray flanges are passed over the cross shaft 35 of the feeding machine and the bottom of the tray is allowed to rest by gravity of the cross member 5|. The tray is thus readily positioned on previously existing parts of the feeding machine.

The supplemental sheets of paper shown at B in Fig. 5, which are comparatively few in number but may, for instance, comprise ten or twenty sheets, are placed on the plates 5| and 52 of the tray and are shoved downwardly and forwardly beneath the raised bail until they abut the front stop of the feeding machine. These for- 40 ward portions of the supplemental sheets thus vertically align with the sheets of the main stack A. The elevation control bail to and the suction foot 32 act on the supplemental sheets in exactly the same manner as they do on the sheets 5 of the main mack. Thus, in the operation of the machine, the supplemental sheets are lifted by the suction foot one at a time and presented to ,'.-the feed rollers 30 and 3! and when the supplemental supply has been entirely fed between the feed rollers, the next cycle of operation causes the suction foot to lift and feed the top sheet of the main stack without interruption of operation.

Ordinarily, when the supplementalsupply of sheets is used there will be a stack of sheets A on the paper table and the supplemental sheets B will rest on top of the stack sheets, as shown in Fig. 5. If, however, there is no stack A present, the table itself may be elevated to the position 0- of the top sheet of the stack and the supplemental sheets may then be fed by the suction foot the usual manner.

While the present invention is not concerned with the specific means by which the bail 40 con- 5 trols the elevation of the stack, I will for the sake of completeness describe the mechanism for this purpose so far as it is shown in the drawings, reference being made to Figs. 1 and 2.

The initial positioning of the table It to receive a stack of sheets or to bring the top of the stack to the desired elevation, is accomplished by the operation of a manually operable handle or crank 80. This handle is rotatably mounted on the outer end of the shaft 22 which carries the sprocket wheels 2!. The handle is axially slidable on the shaft 22 to permit it to be brought into clutching engagement with the hub of a gear 82. The gear 82 is rotatable on the shaft 22 and meshes with a gear 83 mounted on a stub shaft 88 carried by the frame plate ll. Also mounted on the shaft 84 and drivingly secured to the gear 88 is a bevel pinion 85 which meshes with a similar bevel pinion 88 secured to a worm 81. The worm 81 meshes with a worm wheel 88 tight on the shaft 12, thus completing a manual drive to raise or lower the table I 6.

The paper table It is periodically raised by a power operated mechanism, the effective operation of which is controlled by the bail 40 through mechanism indicated in Fig. 1, as follows:

To permit withdrawal of the top sheet from the stack, the bail 48 is periodically moved out of contact with the sheets by a system of links actuated by the printing machine, or other machine to which the sheets are to be fed. Such machine in each cycle of its operation actuates a link 80 pivoted to the upper end of a lever 8i, pivoted as at 92, to a side plate H. A bar 84 is connected to the lever ill by a pin and slot connection 95, a spring 950. interconnected between the bar and the pin normally maintaining the left hand end of the slot (Fig. 1) in engagement with the coacting pin. At its right hand end the bar 95 carries a pin 96 which projects through an opening 91 in the side plate II and is connected with an arm I80 journaled on the pivot of the bail l0.

A resilient connection is provided between the bail 80 and the arm I88. As shown in Figs. 2 and 10, this connection comprises a threaded sleeve I02, which is resiliently positioned on the arm I by a spring )3 and a threaded stud I which is carried by the sleeve and pivotally connected to the bail 48, as at I85. The bail 40 comprises, as indicated in Fig. 10, a bar which extends transversely across the stack and which is provided with slotted arms I01 These arms are adjustably secured to respective bell cranks I88, the latter being pivoted to the respective side plates I0, H as at "if.

Whenever the height of the stack falls below a predetermined level, the bail moves downward until a pin H0 carried by the arm 84 engages the upper portion of a latch Ill. The latch III is pivotally mounted and has a movement indicated by broken lines in Fig. 10. A deficiency in the height of the stack causes the pin III! to engage and swing the latch in a counter-clockwise direction in Fig. 10, (clockwise in Fig. 1). This movement of the latch, by a means not herein shown but fully explained in Patent 2,358,560, causes a suitable pawl to come into engagement with a ratchet wheel I28, which operates the worm 81.

The pawl adapted to operate the ratchet is actuated by the lever 9| operating'through a link I! and a crank 88, Fig. 1. According y. the pawl carrier is reciprocated with every stroke of the link 88 leading from the printing machine but whether the pawl engages the ratchet wheel or passes freely over it is dependent on the actuation of the bail 48. The movement of the ratchet wheel is imparted to the worm 81 by a gear 8,

Fig. 1, drivingly secured to the ratchet wheel and in constant engagement with the gear 82 heretofore described, thus actuating the table raising mechanism.

As long as the top of the stack of sheets A remains below the desired elevation, the latch I l I will be retained in its unlatched position and the ratchet-wheel-operating-mechanism will continue to function in repeating cycles of operation.

When the stack reaches the desired elevation, the spring HI will draw the latch into a latching position, whereupon it will stop the pawl carrier. When the height of the pile drops a predetermined amount, the latch II I will again be moved by the operation of the bail 40 and the pile again raised. Thus, the top sheet of the stack for all practical purposes is maintained at a constant elevation.

I claim: 1

1. The combination with a platform for supporting a stack of sheets, a pair of coacting feed rolls, a separating device to transfer the top sheet of the stack to the feed rolls, means for supporting extra sheets in position to pass to the top of the stack and be fed by the same separator to the same feed rolls while the extra sheets rest in part in said supporting means and in part on the stack, means for lifting the platform and means engaging the top of the stack for controlling the lifting, said extra sheets being positioned to pass beneath the controlling device with a controlling device acting thereon in the same manner as normally on the top of the stack.

2. The combination of a platform adapted to support a stack of sheets, means for automatically lifting the platform, a controlling device including a bar extending across the top sheet of the stack, means controlled thereby for controlling the lifting of the platform, means for automatically feeding the top sheet of the stack means for supporting extra sheets above the stack with the forward position of said sheets passing beneath the bar and under the control thereof while the rear portion of said extra sheets rest on said supporting means.

3. The combination of a platform adapted to support a stack of sheets, means for automatically lifting the platform, a controlling device including a bar extending across the top sheet of the stack, means controlled thereby for controlling the lifting of the platform, means for supporting extra sheets above the stack with said sheets passing beneath the bar and under the control thereof, a suction foot adapted to act on the top sheet of the stack in front of said bar and on the top one of extra sheets resting on the top sheet of the stack and feed rollers to which the suction foot may transfer the extra sheets successively and then the top sheet of the stack without interruption.

4. The combination with a sheet feeding mechanism having a platform for supporting a stack of sheets and means for removing the top sheet, means for raising the platform, a device engaging the top sheet to control the raising mechanism, and a removable tray having corner brackets extending downwardly beneath the controlling device and upwardly to form a guide in front thereof.

5. The combination with a sheet feeding mechanism of a removable tray adapted to carry extra sheets, said tray having bottom plates slidably adjustable for difierent widths of sheets and having upwardly extending edge flanges to form guides for such sheets and means for supporting said tray above the stack in position to feed sheets to the top of the stack.

6. The combination with a sheet feeding mech anism of a removable tray adapted to carry extra sheets, said tray being composed of two members having overlapping bottom plates and having upwardly extending edge flanges to form guides for such sheets, a pin and slot connection between the two bottom plates of the tray with means for supplying friction between said bottom plates to allow them to be adjusted laterally and remain in position, and means for supporting said tray above the stack in position to feed sheets to the top of the stack.

7. A removable tray adapted to carry extra sheets for a sheet feeding mechanism, said tray having bottom plates slidably adjustable for different widths of sheets and having edge flanges to form guides for such sheets, the tray having at its forward corners a pair of hooks adapted to extend downwardly and then upwardly, the forward portion of the hooks being positioned to form guides for the sheets in the tray.

EDWARD J. JANKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 20 Number Name Date Richards Sept. 4, 1883 Richards Dec. 1, 1885 Richards Apr. 20, 1886 Richards Feb. 1, 1887 Hockman Aug. 18, 1903 Fletcher Mar. 3, 1908 Smith Feb. 12, 1924 Kennedy Mar. 8, 1932 Ritzerfeld Mar. 17, 1936 Rider Feb. 15, 1938 Nigra Dec. 6, 1938 Babicz June 6, 1939 Egger Nov. 7, 1939 Curtis Sept. 19, 1944 Rockhill Apr. 17, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germanw Of 1915 

